For the hurting....

I know a few of you are going through tough times. I want to let you know I pray for each one of you and your loved ones because I know how much one person's pain is their loved one's, as well. I want to lift you up with a passage from Scripture. Look at 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:

"That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." ~ 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NLT)

I like verse 16 in the New King James Version. It says, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." In the context, Paul is writing to the Corinthians, telling them about the sufferings the Apostles endured for preaching the name of Christ. He is claiming the hope that even though they are under hardships, their spirits will not lose heart in what is to come. This is what we could call their tough times in life. Being persecuted by governments, religious leaders, and others who did not agree with what they were preaching. They were standing firm in their hope, though, which is what I want give to you today.

Concerning verse 17, where Paul says, "For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!" the MacArthur Study Bible commentary says:

"...For Paul, the future glory he would experience with the Lord far outweighed any suffering he experienced in this world. Paul understood that the greater the suffering, the greater would be his eternal glory (Rom. 8:17-18; 1 Peter 1:6-7)."

This is a longer lesson than I expected, but that's okay. What I want to give to you is the assurance from God's Word that any suffering we endure is not going to be in vain. It is something to strengthen us. Look at Galatians 6:8-10.

"Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith." (NLT)

"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." I like the English Standard Version of verse 9, which says, "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." You can read Ecclesiastes 3 sometime to see there is a time for everything, and at this appointed time, in our lives here on earth, we are going to suffer, or at least be at the risk of suffering any time, any where. It's just a matter of what we do in this suffering that will determines what we will reap. 

Going back to the first passage in 1 Corinthians, Paul knew that his body was decaying, yet he had joy in the fact that he was going to be one day be awarded gifts upon gifts for his endurance through the pain and hardships he endured in the name of Christ. You probably aren't like Paul, though. Getting stoned, harshly ridiculed for your faith, or having your life threatened. However, you are given a life to live from God, and he has allowed certain temptations and trials to come into it. Maybe health problems, relationship issues, or other undesirable things, but he has allowed these things. That means they first had to go through his hands to be allowed into your life. Nothing is unbearable. If were to be, He would take it away (1 Corinthians 10:13). He also works everything in our lives to have eternal value (Romans 8:28). Just trust in him to do he good and perfect work in your life today (Romans 12:1-2).

We have a choice today with what is hurting us. We are going to either sow something beautiful or something horrendous. We can be joyful or bitter. We can be glad or mad. I want to be able to face this life knowing that no matter what happens, I have something better waiting for me at the end of this life. 

I can remember the days that I looked forward to Christmas mornings for the presents (kind of sorta don't care now). But there was a gleeful feeling in me days before the big day that seemed to override anything bad that could happen to me. I mean, I had fifty something presents to open up in three days!  That's the kind of feeling I want to get when I look towards the future. No matter what comes at me, I have that glee in the day ahead when I will be in heaven with the One who got me there, and I'll be forever in peace. By then, I'll see my trials and hardships were not in vain, but for a greater purpose.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

And the one sitting on the throne said, 'Look, I am making everything new!' And then he said to me, 'Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.' And he also said, 'It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children." ~ Revelations 21:1-7